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Cities for CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women

Cities for CEDAWThe aim of the Cities for CEDAW

(The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) campaign

is to “Make the Global Local” and protect the rights of women and girls by passing legislation establishing the principles of CEDAW in cities and towns across the United States.  http://citiesforcedaw.org

It’s about time. Women can’t wait any longer.

WHAT IS THE CITIES FOR CEDAW CAMPAIGN?

Cities for CEDAW is a campaign to protect the rights of women and girls by passing ordinances establishing the principles of CEDAW in cities and towns across the United States

The campaign was launched at a meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2013 by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women (NGO/CSW NY) that supports the work of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and UN Women.  NGO/CSW NY created “Cities for CEDAW” and joined with two founding partners: The Women’s Intercultural Network (WIN) and The San Francisco Department on the Status of Women (DOSW). In 2015, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights joined the campaign to help build capacity and provide educational resources to inform and mobilize individuals to take action in their local areas to promote adoption of CEDAW principles for the Cities for CEDAW campaign.

The campaign is a grassroots effort that provides tools and leadership to empower local women’s, civil and human rights organizations and municipalities to effectively initiate CEDAW within their city, county, town, or state. These ordinances work to ‘make the global local’ and protect women and girls by requiring three key components: a gender analysis of city departments and operations; an oversight body to monitor the implementation of a local CEDAW ordinance; and funding to support the implementation of the principles of CEDAW.

Adopting CEDAW as local law has been proven to effectively address barriers that reduce the quality of life and equity of opportunity for women and girls.

Women's Intercultural NetworkWomen’s Intercultural Network

Women’s Intercultural Network (WIN) is a Non-Governmental Organization  (NGO) with Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).   WIN’s mission is to ensure that all women and girls have a voice for full participation in their government and economy on the ground and on the Internet.   WIN has been ‘bringing  the global local’ since the 4th World Conference on Women, Beijing 1995 with the first state policy mechanism and implemented the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) with the California Women’s Agenda (CAWA).  A major focus of CAWA and the BPFA has been Human Rights policy and CEDAW – the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

WIN is spearheading women NGOs and civil society organizing in support of implementing municipal CEDAW ordinances with the Cities for CEDAW Campaign.  WIN serves as Co-Chair and Peer Leader with the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women who are working with Mayors and city officials on the Campaign. WIN believes that implementing CEDAW can help to create a more civil society in the world and safe, healthy, sustainable cities. We invite you to join with us and our lead civil society partner The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights/The Leadership Conference Education Fund to ‘bring the global local’ with CEDAW to the grassroots of America and US ratification. http://winaction.org

About CEDAW

CEDAW (Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1979 that has yet to be ratified by the U.S Senate. The Cities for CEDAW campaign is a grassroots effort that provides tools and leadership to empower local women’s organizations and municipalities and effectively initiate CEDAW within their city, county or state. The civil society campaign is led by the Women’s Intercultural Network in partnership with The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights/The Leadership Conference Education Fund and the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, New York.

Take Action in Your City

The NGO Committee on the Status of Women in New York, the Women’s Intercultural Network (WIN) and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (in conjunction with The Leadership Conference Education Fund) have developed an effective campaign, Cities for CEDAW, to help you to take action in your city, activate the women’s and human rights community, gain agreement with local leaders to endorse CEDAW now, and work together to end discrimination against women.

Over 40 cities – from San Francisco, CA to Louisville, KY – have either already passed an ordinance or are making serious progress towards an ordinance (such as by passing a resolution that affirms support for the principles of CEDAW). More than ten cities across the country have expressed interest in organizing to establish the principles of CEDAW locally, and the number continues to grow by the day.

A list of cities that are actively engaged in the Cities for CEDAW campaign is available to view here

Resources for the campaign:  http://citiesforcedaw.org/resources/